eBay Tuesday: Boat Race On The Thames

If you had to choose one New London activity that's under-appreciated today, you might have to go with boat racing.

This week's selected item, offered by historicalfindings, shows a scene from when boat races on the Thames River were all the rage. Although there is no date or other clue as to the circumstances of this particular boat race, it's likely that these are spectators to the Yale-Harvard Regatta.

As this column has mentioned before, the race has been held in New London since 1878 and used to pack the city with excited racing fans. Given the variety of vessels in the photo, the pictured boats are probably waiting for the competitors to arrive rather than taking part in any sort of race on their own.

However, New London has a history of other races as well. Attracted by the festivities at the Yale-Harvard Regatta, one club held a race from Greenwich to New London while another one arrived in the city from Oyster Bay, N.Y. 

There were also races to more distant locations. The New York Yacht Club hosted a sail from New London to Newport. One daunting competition didn't end until sailors reached the Chesapeake Bay, a 475-mile journey. And from 1923 to 1930, with a final race in 1934, racers traveled from New London to Bermuda. This one continues to this day, although not from this city. Four other communities have seen racers off to Bermuda, and since 1936 Newport has had the honor.

There's still a prominent racing community in New London, however. The New York Yacht Club returned to New London in 2011 after a long absence. The Off Soundings Club hosts a race from New London to Greenport, N.Y. The Thames Yacht Club hosts races throughout the summer. Sailing teams are active at three of New London's colleges, and the Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College have crew teams as well. And if you want to try the sport for yourself, the New London Currach Rowers could always use a hand.

This photographic print captures a high-quality copy of a Bain News Service picture and measures eight inches by 12. Three prints are available at a starting bid of $8.99 each. The auction ends at about 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday.

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